Meet Makau, a baby boy who is just days old and lives in Kenya. His parents are subsistence farmers, and Makau is their third child. Makau has been diagnosed with spina bifida, which occurs when the spinal cord does not form properly. As a result, Makau has a sac-like swelling on his back. If left untreated, Makau’s nervous system will be further damaged and he will be at higher risk for fatal infections. Makau’s mother says that she would like him to “get well and grow into a responsible young man, beating all traditional myths and superstitions that he is cursed.” For $980, Makau will receive spinal surgery, which will reduce his risk of infection and protect his spinal cord from further trauma. Let’s help Makau live a disability-free life!

This is Indra! He is a hard-working family man who lives in Nepal and has devoted his life to providing education to others. Indra spent his career working as a primary school teacher, and now acts as chairman for a school management committee. He has three sons, all of whom currently work abroad. While working outside one day, Indra accidentally stepped on a piece of glass. The glass is now lodged in his right foot. The wound site is very painful and will likely become infected without treatment. As a teacher and social servant, Indra doesn't make a lot of money. For $935, we can help him have the piece of glass removed from his foot and make sure he receives antibiotics to help prevent infection. Let's help Indra get past this accident and get back to serving his community!

Elisante is a soft-spoken 11-year-old boy living in Tanzania. A relative took him in after his parents were unable to care for him, but despite his difficult early years, he has big dreams. Our medical partner says he wants “to study hard and later on get into seminary school and become a pastor." Unfortunately, Elisante is sick most of the time because he has Hirschsprung’s disease. Hirschsprung’s disease is a condition that causes his intestines to dilate and the microorganisms from his bowels travel to his tissues, which results in difficulty passing stool and puts him at risk of death from infection. For $1,200, we can pay for Elisante to receive an abdominoperineal pull-through with a colostomy. His doctors believe this will solve his problems with passing stool and eliminate his risk of death. This treatment will provide Elisante with more independence and give him time to focus on studying!

Eugenia is a 19-year-old girl from Guatemala whose case has been a two year labor of love for her doctors at our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq. Eugenia has Takayasu's arteritis, a rare disease that affects the major vessels pumping blood through her heart and into the body. If left untreated, Eugenia faces potentially fatal complications, such as heart failure or stroke. The cardiovascular procedure Eugenia needs is extremely difficult to perform in Guatemala, so Wuqu' Kawoq's Medical Director, Dr. Peter Rohloff, has arranged for her surgery to take place at his home hospital in Boston. The hospital is generously covering the cost of her treatment ($75,000!) and Dr. Rohloff and his wife are planning on hosting Eugenia in their home. Now all that remains is getting Eugenia to the US. For $1400, we can fly Eugenia and one of her parents from Guatemala to Boston to help make this incredible story a success. Most importantly, we can put Eugenia on a path toward the long and healthy life that every 19-year-old deserves.

Richard is a 15-year-old boy from Malawi who wants to attend school like his peers. However, because Richard has a condition called macrodactyly, which causes several of his toes to be enlarged, he is constantly teased and harassed by other children. Richard is also unable to wear shoes and cannot walk properly. Richard has yet to finish a year of school because of teasing. Instead, he stays close to home and helps his parents with chores and other work. Richard's treatment will involve the surgical removal of his enlarged toes. Richard has been thinking about life without his large toe and how he will be able to attend school with his peers, and he is excited to walk normally. For $1,000, we can fund Richard’s surgery and give him the confidence to attend school!

Mohamed is a 13-year-old boy who was born and raised in the Manyara region of northern Tanzania. He’s a hard working boy who loves school and dreams of becoming a pilot one day. When Mohamed was just five he began experiencing stiffness and discomfort of his left knee. He was diagnosed with synovitis, an inflammation condition that causes immobility and pain. He was forced to drop out of school due to his increasing pain and inability to walk. Mohamed is the third of six children and his parents work as farmers. They are unable to afford his needed procedure and treatment costs. Surgery is crucial in order to avoid eventual loss of function in Mohamed's right knee and to minimize difficulty in walking. If Mohamed is not treated he is at the risk of losing function in his left knee as well. Let’s do what we can to help Mohamed’s dreams soar as high as his spirits!